Recycling in Cary, NC

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

• Multi-Material Recycling Facilities (opens in new tab) · Wake County Solid Waste Management
  • Wake County runs three Multi-Material Recycling Facilities where businesses and residents can drop off recyclables; East Wake is for Wake County residents only. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Cardboard is accepted if clean, flattened and with packing material removed. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Electronics accepted include TVs, cell phones, computers, monitors, game consoles, stereos, microwaves and any corded device. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Large appliances accepted include A/C and heating units, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers and water heaters. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Scrap metal is accepted at North Wake and South Wake only. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Convenience Center Site 1 (opens in new tab) · Wake County Solid Waste Management
  • Convenience centers are open daily 7 a.m.-7 p.m. to Wake County residents only. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Cardboard is accepted clean, dry and flattened. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • At Site 1, electronics are taken on Saturdays and Sundays only, including computers, printers and televisions. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Large appliances and white goods are not taken at the convenience center; they go to a Multi-Material Recycling Facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Household trash and furniture under 8 feet long or wide are accepted as garbage. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Mattresses and box springs are accepted from Wake County residents, two mattresses per day; more may go to the South Wake Landfill shredder for a fee. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Scrap metal such as bicycles, grills, sinks, ladders, pipes, rims and push mowers is accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Household Hazardous Waste Facilities (opens in new tab) · Wake County Solid Waste Management
  • The HHW sites are for Wake County residents only; residents should be ready to show proof of residency. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • No business waste is accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Household batteries, lead-acid vehicle batteries (limit 6) and rechargeable batteries are accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Lithium/metal hydride car batteries and generator batteries are not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Latex paint (10-gallon limit) and oil-based paint are accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Rusted or dried-out paint cans go in regular trash; residents are encouraged to dry paint with kitty litter. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Scrap Tire Recycling Facilities (opens in new tab) · Wake County Solid Waste Management
  • Wake County residents may dispose of scrap tires free of charge at county facilities. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Tires must be generated in Wake County. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Residents disposing of five or fewer tires do not need a scrap tire certification form. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Cut tires and tires on rims are not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Donate to the ReStore (opens in new tab) · Habitat for Humanity Greater Raleigh (Triangle ReStores)
  • The ReStore is at 181 High House Rd., Cary, NC 27511. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Garbage Collection (opens in new tab) · Town of Cary
  • Bulky trash such as furniture and gas grills is collected by appointment. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Bulky pickup costs $15 for the first item and $8 for each additional item on the same trip. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, dryers and similar appliances can be picked up curbside for a fee. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.10: Prohibited acts; disposal of certain solid wastes in landfills or by incineration prohibited (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Discarded computer equipment may not knowingly be put in a landfill in North Carolina. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • From December 1, 2026, lithium-ion batteries may not knowingly be put in a landfill in North Carolina. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Recycling Opportunities for North Carolina Households (electronics) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • Most North Carolina counties and some towns run public electronics drop-off sites; DEQ tells residents to contact their local solid waste and recycling office. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ Division of Waste Management: Electronics Management (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • Since March 16, 2015, keyboards, mice and other peripherals are no longer covered devices under the law. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.134: Requirements for computer equipment manufacturers (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Every computer equipment maker must run a free and reasonably convenient recycling program for computer equipment discarded by consumers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A computer maker may not charge a consumer or a local government a fee when discarded computer equipment is delivered for recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • At minimum (a Level I plan) a maker takes back only computer equipment it made; Level II and III plans also take other makers' equipment. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Level II and Level III plans take computer equipment made by other manufacturers as well as the maker's own. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A manufacturer's take-back may let consumers return discarded computer equipment by mail. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Take-back may also be at a manufacturer-run collection site open during normal business hours, or at a manufacturer collection event. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Take-back may be offered at a collection event hosted by the manufacturer or its designee. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Each manufacturer must run a toll-free phone line to answer consumer questions about computer recycling options. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Level II and III plans may also collect other electronics that are not covered computer equipment, and may charge a nominal fee for them. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Manufacturer and Retail Take-Back and Recycling Programs (electronics) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ: all makers of desktops, laptops, monitors, printers and scanners must offer a no-cost recycling program to North Carolina households. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • DEQ keeps a list of computer equipment makers with websites and phone numbers for their take-back or recycling services. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.131: Definitions (discarded computer equipment and televisions) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Covered computer equipment: computers, monitors, and printing devices such as printers, scanners and print-scan-fax machines; keyboards and mice are excluded. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Not covered: servers, mobile phones, calculators, PDAs, MP3 players and similar devices, TVs and household appliances. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A consumer is a household occupant who used the device mainly for personal or home business use, or a nonprofit with fewer than 10 employees. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Nonprofits with fewer than 10 employees also count as consumers. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.70: Landfilling and incineration of lead-acid batteries prohibited; delivery for recycling (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Used lead-acid batteries may not be put in a landfill, incinerator or waste-to-energy facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Improper disposal of a lead-acid battery carries a civil penalty of up to $50 per battery. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Anyone may deliver a lead-acid battery to a battery retailer or wholesaler, a secondary lead smelter, or an authorized collection or recycling facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.71: Retailers required to accept lead-acid batteries for recycling (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Lead-acid battery retailers must accept, at the point of sale, used batteries of the same type and at least as many as the new batteries bought. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Retailers must post a sign saying state law requires them to accept used vehicle and other lead-acid batteries in exchange for new batteries purchased. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ Division of Waste Management: Lead Acid Batteries (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ: retailers must accept lead-acid batteries for recycling if a battery is purchased. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Lithium-Ion Batteries (battery drop-off) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ: never put rechargeable batteries in trash or recycling carts; lithium-ion batteries can start fires in trucks and facilities. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • DEQ directs residents to bring household rechargeable batteries to a participating store found with The Battery Network's locator map. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The store drop-off option is for household rechargeable batteries. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The other option DEQ gives is a local government drop-off: contact your city or county. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Local Government Battery Collections (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ tells residents to check with their city, town or county for battery drop-off sites, preparation rules and hours. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.